Book of nudes wins VAPA Cup top award
13:02' 30/12/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Photo book Xuan Thi (Spring Time) by photographer Thai Phien won the Viet Nam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) Cup yesterday in Ha Noi, marking a milestone as the first book of photographs showing nudes to win the award.

Photographer Phien said his joy at winning the cup was shared by all Vietnamese photographers.

Ethereal Night: A photo presented in the photo book Xuan Thi (Spring Time) by photographer Thai Phien (above) won the VAPA Cup and the photo Tinh Lang (Quiet, below) by Ly Hoang Long won the VAPA silver cup.

"That's because VAPA has finally recognised nude photo art in Viet Nam," said Phien. "I think that now Vietnamese people can enjoy nude photos publicly."

Spring Time was the first art book of nude photography published in Viet Nam by HCM Literature and Arts Publishing House. The book includes 71 photos, which were snapped by Thai Phien across a period of 15 years.

Books that won the bronze VAPA cups included Chu Thu Hao's Nhiep Anh Mot Goc Nhin (Looking Photography); Minh Dao's Thu Tuong Vo Van Kiet (Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet) and Tran Phong's Le Hoi Tay Nguyen (Festivals in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam).

Cup-winner Phien will fly from HCM City to Ha Noi to receive a prize worth VND6 million (US$340), which is the highest award for photography books.

The VAPA also awarded silver and bronze cups to photographers, whose works won prizes at national, regional and international competitions.

Six artists took silver cups, each worth VND6 million, including of Thao Nguyen, Vu Dung, Chau Sang, Ly Hoang Long, and two others.

Three of the VAPA Cup 2008 photos Tiem Nang Cho Nhung Cong Trinh (Potential Works), Uom Mam Rau Sach (Organic Vegetable Cultivation) and Tinh Lang (Quiet) explore the impact of technology.

The other works explore daily life and the beauty of the natural environment. Prize-winning photo Lap Lanh Tren Song (Twinkling in the River) by HCM City-based artist Nguyen Van Khanh was displayed at the 25th National Photographic Exhibition in Ha Noi a few months ago.

Nine bronze cups worth VND4 million ($230) were presented to nine photographers. This year, there is no gold cup to be awarded.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

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